Simone Inzaghi found the Inter performance ‘comforting’ in a 4-0 demolition of Crvena Zvezda after rotating the squad, noting the so-called second string players are ‘fundamental.’
The Nerazzurri are yet to concede a goal in the Champions League so far this season, as they followed up a creditable 0-0 draw away to Manchester City with this 4-0 demolition of Crvena Zvezda.
Despite the massive squad rotation that saw seven changes from the side that beat Udinese 3-2 in Serie A at the weekend, they were comfortable with Hakan Calhanoglu’s first free kick goal in the Inter jersey, then Mehdi Taremi’s generous high press set up Marko Arnautovic and Lautaro Martinez before he converted a late penalty himself.
“The lads did well and were focused against a team that came here to be above all defensive. Despite that, we moved it around well and broke the deadlock with that great Hakan goal. Aside from a couple of counter-attacks that we could’ve read better, we were in control and created lots more chances to score as well,” Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia.
“It was a victory we wanted to follow on from the good performance in Manchester. We have to continue along this path, I got the response I was expecting from my players, so we are satisfied.”
Inzaghi relishing response from Inter second string
There was an all-new partnership upfront of Taremi and Arnautovic, with both strikers finding the net this evening.
“I said before the game, they are working hard in training and I make choices game by game with the good of Inter in mind. They made the most of this opportunity, but so did many others who haven’t played that much yet and this response is very comforting for a coach.
“The strikers are fundamental, they must help us out both when they start and when they come off the bench. It’s a long season, we know Lautaro Martinez already had some fitness problems, Arnautovic and Taremi are two players I really wanted here and they are having a big effect.”
Davide Frattesi had been expected to start, but instead it was Piotr Zielinski who joined the traditional midfield and Inzaghi explains why.
“I knew that our opponents would take this approach, so we needed someone like Zielinski to help us unpick a deep-lying defensive team with his quality and ability to move the ball in tight spaces.”
Inter and Milan have been hit over the last couple of days by the investigation into their ultras leaders and potential links to organised crime.
“The team worked hard, we tried not to listen to what was going on, because we only had two days to prepare for this match,” insisted Inzaghi.
“Crvena Zvezda have been doing well this season, they were in better shape also by playing the preliminary rounds of the Champions League, so we had to be ready.”